Michael Francis Huerth, Negonigeshick “Light Before the Beginning of the Day” enrolled member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, son of Harris and Frances Huerth, began his next journey on May 3, 2022.

Negonigeshick spent a long career in education. He taught at the South High All Nations program, Flandreau Indian School and Nawayee Center School. He served as Assistant Principal at South High School and Principal at Patrick Henry High, South High, Roosevelt, Bdote Learning Center and co-found Anishinabe Academy. He also served as the Indian Education Director for Minneapolis Public Schools. His work to educate and find new ways to support our Native youth was a passion that drove his work each day.

Negonigeshick spent many years sundancing in Pine Ridge South Dakota and ran sweat lodge for our Native community in the Metro area. He was committed to serve our Native community and he will continue to watch over us in a good way. With all that he accomplished in his profession with teaching, leading, or sacrificing for others well-being, Negonigeshick loved his family, or as he called it, his clan. Even as a young man, he wanted a family. As a husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, he believed in kindness, gratefulness, and pride in who we are, as we are, and that family is worth doing the best we can.

Wake: Sunday, May 8th 7:30
American Indian Center, 1530 E. Franklin Ave Minneapolis
Ceremony: Monday, May 9th 10:00
Dakotah Lounge, Division of Indian Work, 1001 E. Lake Street Minneapolis
Four day fire was held in Maine with his family
Both the wake and the ceremony are potluck.